U.S. patent number 10,654,136 [Application Number 15/191,949] was granted by the patent office on 2020-05-19 for component connection and method for producing a component connection.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft. The grantee listed for this patent is Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Maik Hammer, Johann Van Niekerk.
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United States Patent |
10,654,136 |
Hammer , et al. |
May 19, 2020 |
Component connection and method for producing a component
connection
Abstract
A component connection includes a first component, which is made
of a material attractable by a magnet, and a second component which
lies directly or indirectly adjacent to the first component and
which has a hole. A magnetic element is provided which covers the
hole and attracts the first component such that both components are
clamped together.
Inventors: |
Hammer; Maik (Bruckberg,
DE), Van Niekerk; Johann (Munich, DE) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft |
Munich |
N/A |
DE |
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Assignee: |
Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft (Munich, DE)
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Family
ID: |
52595310 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/191,949 |
Filed: |
June 24, 2016 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20160303691 A1 |
Oct 20, 2016 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/EP2015/053595 |
Feb 20, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 26, 2014 [DE] |
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10 2014 205 609 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16B
5/08 (20130101); B23K 26/22 (20130101); B23K
26/323 (20151001); B23K 37/04 (20130101); H01F
7/0252 (20130101); B23K 26/0884 (20130101); B23K
26/324 (20130101); B23K 2103/04 (20180801); B23K
2103/18 (20180801); F16B 2001/0035 (20130101); B23K
2103/42 (20180801); B23K 2101/185 (20180801) |
Current International
Class: |
B23K
37/04 (20060101); B23K 26/08 (20140101); B23K
26/22 (20060101); B23K 26/323 (20140101); H01F
7/02 (20060101); F16B 5/08 (20060101); B23K
26/324 (20140101); F16B 1/00 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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102606953 |
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Jul 2012 |
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CN |
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103124670 |
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May 2013 |
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CN |
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103261005 |
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Aug 2013 |
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CN |
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103445657 |
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Dec 2013 |
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CN |
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1 904 297 |
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Nov 1964 |
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DE |
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28 41 802 |
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Apr 1979 |
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DE |
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83 05 329 |
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Oct 1983 |
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DE |
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20 2004 007 458 |
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Aug 2004 |
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DE |
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10 2009 049 602 |
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Jul 2011 |
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DE |
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10 2010 030 964 |
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Jan 2012 |
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DE |
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10 2011 079 483 |
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Jan 2013 |
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DE |
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10 2012 214 682 |
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Oct 2013 |
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DE |
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5108135 |
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Dec 2012 |
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JP |
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WO 2012/031652 |
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Mar 2012 |
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WO |
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WO 2013/131293 |
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Sep 2013 |
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WO |
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Other References
German Commercial Register issued in Counterpart German Application
No. 10 2014 205 609.8 dated Apr. 26, 2016 (3 pages). cited by
applicant .
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) issued in PCT Application
No. PCT/EP2015/0533595 dated May 6, 2015 with English translation
(6 pages). cited by applicant .
German-language Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) issued in PCT
Application No. PCT/EP2015/0533595 dated May 6, 2015 (5 pages).
cited by applicant .
Chinese-language Office Action issued in counterpart Chinese
Application No. 201580003514.5 dated Sep. 12, 2017 with English
translation (fourteen (14) pages). cited by applicant .
Chinese-language Office Action issued in counterpart Chinese
Application No. 201580003514.5 dated Feb. 27, 2017 with English
translation (Eighteen (18) pages). cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Masinick; Jonathan P
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Crowell & Moring LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of PCT International Application
No. PCT/EP2015/053595, filed Feb. 20, 2015, which claims priority
under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 from German Patent Application No. 10
2014 205 609.8, filed Mar. 26, 2014, the entire disclosures of
which are herein expressly incorporated by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A component connection, comprising: a first component composed
of a material that is attracted by a magnet; a second component
that bears directly or indirectly against the first component and
includes a hole; a magnetic element, wherein the hole in the second
component has a clear width less than a clear width or a diameter
of the magnetic element, the magnetic element projects over the
hole and magnetically attracts the first component from a side of
the second component opposite a side facing the first component,
and the first and second components are clamped together by the
magnetic attraction between the magnetic element and the first
component.
2. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the
magnetic element has at least partially a ball shape.
3. The component connection according to claim 2, wherein the
magnetic element is composed of steel.
4. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein: the hole
is a circular hole.
5. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein: the
first component comprises a centering element against which a
portion of the magnetic element bears, and the portion of the
magnetic element projects through the hole, as a result of which
the magnetic element is centered by the centering element in a
defined position with respect to the first component.
6. The component connection according to claim 5, wherein the
centering element is a stamped structure provided in the first
component.
7. The component connection according to claim 6, wherein the
stamped structure is configured as a trough-shaped depression
provided in the first component.
8. The component connection according to claim 5, wherein the
centering element is a hole provided in the first component.
9. The component connection according to claim 8, wherein the hole
in the first component has a clear width that is less than a clear
width or a diameter of the magnetic element.
10. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the
second component is a plastics component.
11. The component connection according to claim 1, wherein the
first and second components are adhesively bonded to one another
via an adhesive layer situated between the first and second
components.
12. A method for producing a component connection between a first
component composed of a material attracted by a magnet and a second
component having a hole, the method comprising the acts of:
positioning the first and second components so as to bear directly
or indirectly against one another; and providing a magnetic element
which projects over the hole of the second component and
magnetically attracts the first component, as a result of which the
first and second components are clamped together by the magnetic
attraction between the magnetic element and the first component,
wherein the hole in the second component has a clear width less
than a clear width or a diameter of the magnetic element, and the
magnetic element projects over the hole and magnetically attracts
the first component from a side of the second component opposite a
side facing the first component.
13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the act
of: after clamping the first and second components together,
welding the magnetic element to the first component.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first and second
components are composed of metal and the method further comprises
the act of welding the magnetic element to the second
component.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the act of welding
the magnetic element to the first component is carried out by
contactless laser welding via a laser welding device guided in an
electronically controlled manner by a robot.
16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the acts
of: determining, via a position detection device, a position of the
magnetic element; and supplying position data of the position of
the magnetic element to the robot electronically controlling the
laser welding device, wherein the robot controls the laser welding
device using the position data of the magnetic element.
17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the act of welding
the magnetic element to the first component is carried out by
contactless laser welding via a laser welding device guided in an
electronically controlled manner by a robot.
18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the acts
of: determining, via a position detection device, a position of the
magnetic element; and supplying position data of the position of
the magnetic element to the robot electronically controlling the
laser welding device, wherein the robot controls the laser welding
device using the position data of the magnetic element.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the position of the
magnetic element is a center point of a ball forming the magnetic
element.
20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the first and second
components are composed of metal and the method further comprises
the act of welding the magnetic element to the second component.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a component connection and to a
method for producing a component connection.
It is already known to connect components to one another by means
of "ball clamping connections". In this context, reference should
be made by way of example to DE 10 2009 049 602 B3, DE 10 2010 030
964 A1, WO 2012 031 652 A1 or DE 10 2012 214 682 B3.
It is an object of the invention to provide a component connection
which can be produced in a very simple and cost-effective manner,
and to provide a corresponding method.
This and other objects are achieved by a component connection,
comprising a first component which is composed of a material which
can be attracted by a magnet; a second component which bears
indirectly or directly against the first component and has a hole,
wherein a magnetic element projects over the hole and attracts the
first component such that the two components are clamped together.
These objects are also achieved by a method for producing a
component connection between a first component which is composed of
a material which can be attracted by a magnet, and a second
component having a hole, wherein the two components are positioned
in such a manner that they bear indirectly or directly against each
other, and a magnetic element is provided which projects over the
hole and attracts the first component, as a result of which the two
components are clamped together.
A starting point of the invention is a component connection
comprising a first component and a second component which bears
indirectly or directly against the first component and has a hole.
The two components are clamped together. The first component is
composed of a material which can be attracted by a magnet. As
already indicated, the two components do not have to bear directly
against each other. On the contrary, a single-layered or
multi-layered intermediate layer can also be provided between the
two components, or an intermediate part, such as, for example, an
intermediate sheet, or the like can also be provided between the
two components. The first component may be, for example, a steel
sheet.
An aspect of the invention consists in the two components being
clamped together by use of a magnetic element. The magnetic element
projects over the hole provided in the second component and
attracts the first component.
The magnetic element can be entirely or partially in the shape of a
ball. For example, the magnetic element can be produced from steel.
Steel balls are extremely favorable as mass produced products and
can be magnetized in a simple manner.
The hole provided in the second component may be of circular
design. However, this does not absolutely have to be the case. The
hole could also be triangular, square or polygonal in another
manner or else configured as an elongated hole. It is essential
that the clear width or the diameter of the hole is smaller than
the diameter of the ball, i.e. that it is ensured that the ball or
the magnetic element cannot be passed through the hole.
The magnetic element preferably projects at least for a distance
into the hole. As a result, a form-fitting connection is produced
between the magnetic element and the second component. The magnetic
element preferably projects at most into the hole provided in the
second component to an extent such that the two components are
still just clamped together, that is to say that the magnetic
element at most bears "lightly" against the first component such
that the two components cannot lift off each other.
According to a development of the invention, the first component
has a "centering element" against which a portion of the magnetic
element bears, the portion projecting through the hole, wherein the
magnetic element is centered in a defined position with respect to
the first component by the centering element. By this means, it is
therefore ensured that the magnetic element produces a form-fitting
connection between the two components or that there is a (certain)
form-fitting connection between the magnetic element and each of
the two components.
The centering element can be formed, for example, by a stamped
structure provided in the first component. The stamped structure
may be formed, for example, by a trough-like depression. The
trough-like depression may be designed, for example, to be
circular, elongate, triangular, square or polygonal in another
manner.
As an alternative thereto, the centering element can also be formed
by a hole which is provided in the first component and into which
the magnetic element projects for a distance. It is also essential
here that the clear width of the centering element--or, in the case
of a hole, the diameter of the hole--is smaller than the clear
width or diameter of the magnetic element such that it is ensured
that the centering element actually acts in a centering manner with
respect to the magnetic element.
The second component may likewise be composed of a material which
can be attracted by a magnet. However, this does not necessarily
have to be the case. The second component may also be composed, for
example, of a nonmagnetic material, such as, for example, of
plastic.
According to a development of the invention, it can be provided
that, in addition to the "magnetic connection", the two components
are fixedly connected to each other permanently, for example by
screwing, riveting, welding or adhesive bonding.
The invention is not restricted to a component connection, but also
includes a method for producing a component connection or a method
for connecting a first component which is composed of a material
which can be attracted by a magnet, to a second component having a
hole.
The method according to the invention consists in that the two
components are positioned in such a manner that they bear
indirectly or directly against each other and that a magnetic
element is provided which projects over the hole and attracts the
first component, wherein the two components are clamped
together.
After the two components are clamped together, the magnetic element
can be welded to the first component, as a result of which a
nonreleasable form-fitting connection is produced between the two
components.
If the second component is composed of a weldable material, the
second component can also be welded to the magnetic element.
Alternatively or additionally thereto, the two components may also
be welded directly to each other.
If the magnetic element is a magnetic ball, a smooth weld seam can
be produced that extends around the entire magnetic ball and via
which the magnetic ball and the first component and/or the magnetic
ball and the second component are welded to each other.
The welding can take place, for example, contactlessly by use of a
laser welding device. The laser welding device can be guided here
by a robot. If the magnetic element is a magnetic ball, the
position of the ball can be determined in a very simple manner
optoelectronically by way of a position detection device. The
position data determined by the detection device (for example a
center point of the ball) can be supplied to a robot guiding the
welding device and used for controlling the welding robot.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The single FIGURE, FIG. 1, shows the basic principle of the
invention in a schematic illustration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a component connection 1 which has a first component 2
and a second component 3. A passage hole 4 is provided in the
second component 3.
The first component 2 has a trough-like depression 5 which acts as
a centering element for a magnetic ball 6. The first component 2 is
composed of a material which is attracted by the magnetic ball
6.
As is apparent from FIG. 1, the clear width of the through hole 4
provided in the second component 3 is at least somewhat smaller
than the clear width or the diameter of the magnetic element formed
by the magnetic ball 6. The magnetic ball 6 therefore projects at
least for a distance over the through hole provided in the second
component 3. Since the magnetic ball 6 attracts the first component
2, a clamping connection is produced between the two components 2,
3.
As is apparent from FIG. 1, the magnetic ball 6 bears, at least in
a contact point region, against the upper side of the trough-like
depression 5 which is provided in the first component 2. Owing to
the magnetic attraction between the magnetic ball 6 and the first
component 2 and the fact that the magnetic ball 6 at least
partially projects over the through hole 4, the two components 2, 3
are "centered" relative to each other by the magnetic ball 6.
With a magnetic ball of this type, components can be fixed relative
to one another in a very simple and cost-effective manner.
Component connections of this type can be used in a versatile
manner, for example in the manufacturing of vehicle bodies, in the
region of white goods, etc. The two components 2, 3 may therefore
be, in particular, vehicle body components. Of course, it is also
possible for only one of the two components 2, 3 to be a body
component of a vehicle, and the other component may be an accessory
part or an accessory component.
After the two components 2, 3 are clamped together by the magnetic
force exerted by the magnetic ball 6, the two components 2, 3 can
be fixedly connected to each other permanently, for example by
screwing, riveting, adhesive bonding, welding or in another
manner.
The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate
the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since
modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit
and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the
art, the invention should be construed to include everything within
the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
* * * * *